Pennsylvania State Education Association

Week of 1-6-2025

Inside this issue

• New year brings new opportunities with pro-public education legislators
• Community event supports Haitian immigrants in Charleroi
• PSEA podcast: Pod-aversary reflections: The year in review and what lies ahead
• Want to work for PSEA?
• Center for Professional Learning & PEARL
• Member Benefits spotlight: PSEA Visa Signature card

As the Pennsylvania General Assembly begins its new session, PSEA is eager to continue our collaboration with pro-public education legislators to advance policies that benefit students, educators, and schools statewide. Though this past election didn’t bring the clean sweep we were hoping for, we start the new year with the same pro-public education majority in the state House that helped us make measurable progress last year on some key initiatives, and the same balance in the Senate. We look forward to building on that bedrock of achievements and continuing to drive meaningful progress in the year ahead.

Last year, we celebrated some key legislative victories thanks to the advocacy and involvement of our members.

Now, just a few weeks out from Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget address, we’re focused on expanding these advocacy efforts.

Stay tuned in the weeks ahead for updates on PSEA’s key legislative priorities, as well as ways to advocate for their successful passage.

On Jan. 4, a Love Anyway Feast took place in Charleroi, PA, to support the town’s Haitian community. This event was organized in response to inflammatory and derogatory comments made during the election about the Haitian community in the U.S., and in Charleroi in particular. Similar Love Anyway Feasts have been used in multiple countries to help encourage peace in communities that have experienced conflict.

Common Ground USA, the event’s co-organizer alongside PSEA, focuses on areas around the world where rhetoric is causing fear and anxiety. The organization helps to steer the conversation toward finding “common ground” to tamp down the rhetoric.

Members of Common Ground, PSEA, the borough council, Haitian community leaders, and local churches came together with nearly 75 community participants comprised of local businesspeople, local elected officials, longtime residents, as well as immigrants and refugees.

A local Haitian musician, Heavensea Dorzell, wrote the song “Better Together” (lyrics to which are pictured above) that he debuted at the event.

Attendees were encouraged to sit with those they didn’t know, and everyone was able to tell their story. Haitian and Liberian food prepared by members of the community was provided, along with hats and gloves for children and adults in need. PSEA helped with a donation for food and with planning.

By all accounts, the event was a huge success.

In a special episode, Aaron, Jeff, and Rachael celebrate the podcast’s one-year pod-aversary. They discuss key PSEA highlights from 2024, including success with a student teacher stipend, ongoing efforts to secure a pre-Act 9 retiree COLA, and plans to address ESP shortages with a dedicated Lobby Day in 2025.

The team also shares their favorite memories from the year and looks ahead to new goals and more tapping into the collaborative spirit that drives PSEA’s mission forward.

Staff Associate/Secretary

PSEA has a vacancy in our New Castle office as a Staff Associate/Secretary providing administrative support to Field staff and helping ensure that the operations of the office run efficiently. This position serves as a hub of activity including clerical support, data entry, scheduling, ordering office supplies, paying invoices, and coordinating building maintenance.

Learn more at www.psea.org/jobs

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Senior Director of Human Resources (Talent Acquisition/HR Generalist)

PSEA is seeking a dynamic Senior Director to join our Human Resources Division and drive talent acquisition efforts that reflect our values of equity, respect, unionism, and integrity, and lead the full recruitment lifecycle, ensuring a seamless and positive candidate experience. This senior level position will research, develop, and implement effective recruiting and staffing strategies to attract a diverse pool of qualified and capable talent for the organization.

Learn more at www.psea.org/jobs

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Associate Staff Counsel

PSEA is looking to fill TWO full-time, temporary attorney positions. The Associate Staff Counsel positions will be in Harrisburg and Allentown and extend for two years, with a possible third year. Both positions are available now, but PSEA would also consider candidates available for an August 2025 start date. Candidates welcome to apply would be a 3L or attorneys beginning their careers.

For a complete description of these jobs and to find out how to apply, visit www.psea.org/jobs

PSEA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and actively seeks diverse candidates and those with the ability to work on a diverse team with a diverse range of people.

PEARL

Visit the new, improved PEARL today and choose from more than 95 asynchronous courses available for Act 48 credit and Chapter 14 verification.

You can find multiple courses that interest you in any of these tracks: 

• Book Studies
• Educational Equity
• Pedagogy
• Policy
• Pupil Services
• Special Populations
• Technology in Education
• SEL & Wellness

Webinars

• Tools, Strategies, and Resources to Help New & Early Career Educators
  
  • Jan. 22, 7-8 p.m.
• Cultivating Critical Thinking: A Toolbox of Routines & Strategies
  • Jan. 28, 7-8 p.m.
• Intro to the 3D Science Standards: Coming This Fall!
  • Feb. 5, 7-8:30 p.m.

Book Discussions

• Social and Emotional Learning with Dr. Seuss
  • Feb. 26, 7-8 p.m.
• Tech for Teacher Wellness: Strategies for a Healthy Life and Sustainable Career
  • March 25, 7-8 p.m.
• The Mindful Teacher’s Toolkit
  • April 2, 7-8 p.m.

Postgraduate Credits

Earn postgraduate credits from PennWest University for $70 each!

More than 150 postgraduate credits are available across a wide range of teaching and learning topics.

These postgraduate credits (micro-credentials) can count toward the 24 credits required for a Level II certificate and also may count toward salary advancement.*

For support professionals, these courses may meet Chapter 14 requirements.**

*Check your contract to determine if you can apply standalone postgraduate credits for column movement.
**Seek approval from your employer prior to completing hours to apply toward Chapter 14 requirements.

PSEA has partnered with Commerce Bank to bring members the PSEA Visa Signature credit card offer. With this card, members can earn cash back rewards with every purchase, with no point cap or opt-in required.

• Earn 3 percent cash back on streaming, cable, and ride-sharing services
• Earn 2 percent cash back on gas and restaurants
• Earn 1 percent cash back on all other purchases

Enroll in the toggle feature and add more flexibility to your PSEA Visa Signature credit card. With the toggle feature, you can:

• Choose to Pay Now by a specific category or purchase amount,
• Choose to Pay Later by a specific category or purchase amount or unwind a transaction.

Check it out and get the card that rewards you and supports Pennsylvania educators with every purchase.